Evening,
Lawrie's comments in relation to indigenous knowledge
of the Kalkadoon Grasswren tally with my own (albeit
limited) experience with Aboriginal people. He writes:
The
> evidence from other parts of Australia is that
> Aborigines knew the fauna
> very well, and generally speaking their taxonomy
> agreed in large part
> with ours, though the concept of ultrataxa was
> something they adopted
> long before us!
I cannot vouch for the people of Kalkadoon but
certainly when I visited the Gove Peninsula
(north-east Arnhem Land) last year, the local Yolgnu
people's knowledge of both fauna and flora was
exceptionally detailed - they had names (and
explanations!) for absolutely everything.
A Melbourne academic well acquainted with the area and
its people told me that Gumatj elders around Cape
Arnhem played a pivotal role in helping white
biologists locate populations of Cinnamon Antechinus
(I think? Sorry to be vague but most of my books are
in storage at the moment). I doubt anybody less than
completely familiar with the landscape and its
inhabitants would have been able to help find such an
animal.
Lawrie added,
Other evidence of later years also
> suggests that this
> indigenous ecological knowledge begins to fade
> rather quickly after the
> people come off the land.
It's important to note that the Yolgnu have been very
successful in maintaining their traditional knowledges
and customs. I wonder if this is the case with regards
to the Kalkadoon?
Personally I loved the name before I even knew where
it was derived from. I for one will be happy to adopt
it, whether BA does or not!
Cheers
AS
--- Lawrie Conole <> wrote: > > It
is not impossible that they did not even know
> of the bird.The
> > people at our Kalkadoon Tribal Keeping Place did
> not know of it.
>
> I wouldn't draw too many conclusions from these
> observations.
>
> > Boles). Regards, Bob Forsyth, Mount Isa, Qld
> ps,Australian Aboriginal
> > Studies No.2 "The Kalkatunga Language: A Brief
> Description"as a matter
> > of interest includedPlains Turkey, Jackass,
> Kingfisher, Bush Turkey,
> > Budgerigar,Willie Wagtail, Whistler Duck, Curlew,
> Flock Pigeon,
> > Mopoke, Corella,Shag, Eagle, Black Duck, Wood
> Duck, Galah, Water Hen,
> > Scrub TurkeySpoonbill, Dotterell, Wild Turkey,
> Kingfisher, Brown
> > Pigeon, Crane, Pelican,Eaglehawk, Plumed Pigeon,
> Emu, Crow, Brolga but
> > alas no wrens.
>
> Works of this kind also tend to reflect ecological
> shortcomings on the
> part of European anthropologists and ethnologists
> who compiled them -
> thus masking or overlooking much detailed local
> knowledge of the biota.
> Look at the list - it's roughly analogous to what
> you'd expect any
> non-birder to be able to recognise.
>
> Things are not always as obvious as they might
> appear!
>
> .... and not being from your area I find the name
> Kalkadoon Grasswren
> much more evocative of the country than either
> Hortons, Selwyn,
> Carpentarian or Eyrean Gw - but then that's just my
> opinion. ;-)
>
> L.
>
>
> --
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> LAWRIE CONOLE
> 3 Gezireh Street, Pascoe Vale South
> Victoria 3044 AUSTRALIA. 37°44'27"S 144°56'17"E
> Phone (03) 9354 2484; Mobile (0419) 588 993
> E-mail: <>
>
> Home page: http://www.bluep.com/~oco/
> Twitchathon: http://www.bluep.com/~oco/cdph.html
> Field guide survey:
> http://www.bluep.com/~oco/Fguide.html
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
>
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